Knox College Library

Earnest Elmo Calkins/Gerald Carson LettersManuscript Collection

Biographical Notes:
Earnest Elmo Calkins (1868-1964) was born in Galesburg, IL and attended Knox College graduating in 1891. In 1902 Calkins
established an advertising firm with Ralph Holden (18xx-1926) Calkins and Holden in New York. The firm broke new ground
in the field by creating the concept of an advertising campaign (the Arrow shirt man) and the advertising jingle. Among
the most familiar was Phoebe Snow created for the Lackawanna Railroad. Calkins was the recipient of significant awards
and has been called the father of modern advertising.

In addition, E.E.Calkins authored numerous books on a variety of topics. They Broke the Prairie (Scribners,
New York 1937) is the history of Knox College and Galesburg, IL written for the town's centenary. Deaf since the age of
six due to a childhood disease, Calkins's autobiography, And Hearing Not--- (Scribners, New York, 1946) details his
youth. Modern Advertising (Appleton, New York, 1915) and The Business of Advertising (Appleton, New York, 1905) detail
his professional philosophy. Various other titles deal with printing arts, building models, dining and deafness.

Calkins married Angie C. Higgins in 1904 (1863-1950). They had no children. He received an honorary degree from Knox
College in 1921 and served as an honorary trustee from 1950 until his death.